Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman stole the show at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where Atalanta recorded a 3-0 away win over Serie A leaders Napoli on Sunday, Afrosport reports.
The 27-year-old Nigerian international, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Men’s African Player of the Year award, bagged a brace as Atalanta moved into second place in the league standings with 22 points, three behind Antonio Conte’s Napoli.
𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 🌟🖤💙@acqua_lete | #NapoliAtalanta 0-3 FT #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/I6q758rUi9
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) November 3, 2024
Lookman broke the deadlock for La Dea in the 10th minute with a left-footed volley from close range. After the hosts dealt with a cross into their box, Martin de Roon headed the ball back into the danger area, and a flick from Charles De Ketelaere sent the ball into the path of Lookman, who beat Alex Meret with a neat finish.
The hosts, however, almost drew level immediately through Scott McTominay, but the Scotland international saw his powerful strike repelled by the post in the 12th minute, with goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi well beaten.
Atalanta then doubled their lead in the 31st minute as Lookman and De Ketelaere combined again. After some fine work on the right flank, the Belgian found Lookman, and with more work to be done, the Super Eagles forward shifted the ball before beating Meret from outside the box with a powerful right-footed shot that found the bottom corner of the Napoli post.
The brace took Lookman’s season tally to six goals and four assists in eight Serie A matches this campaign, and the forward, who was replaced by Lazar Samardzic in the 78th minute, departed to a huge applause from the travelling fans.
What a performance 😮💨#NapoliAtalanta pic.twitter.com/ZOdK7V7vgY
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) November 3, 2024
Atalanta crowned their dominance with another goal in stoppage time as substitute Mateo Retegui got his 11th goal of the season in the 92nd minute. The Italian forward volleyed home a cross from Raoul Bellanova to cap off a nice team performance.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men registered their fifth consecutive win in Serie A and are now unbeaten in six league matches since their shocking defeat at Como in September.
Meanwhile, Napoli lost for just the second time this season, ending their nine-game unbeaten streak in the league since their opening day defeat to Venezia.
Atalanta head to Germany on Wednesday to take on Stuttgart in the UEFA Champions League before hosting Udinese at the Gewiss Stadium in Serie A next Sunday, while the Partenopei will head to the San Siro to take on defending champions Inter Milan in a potential title clash on the same day.
